River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-27


''Nell, Mr.. Coroner" said |. Though
the case does look anything but
promising, | shall do my best and have
hopes from the reckless persistency with
with which the murder have been
/ perpetrated that | shall unearth the
desperate, or my name is not Jackson. =
We separated for the night, | 10 re-
pair 10 my hotel in the town on the
understanding that the Coroner was to
come 10 me whenever | should send for
him, and that | should not be seen enter
ing his house or the police precinct. |
should here mention that / had under
taken the journey disguised as a me-
chanic, carrying a large bag containing
several suits of various descriptions
| had brought the bag in my hand
from the depot TO the hotel, and after
having sent for the Captain of Police
and ascertained where the inquest was
! to be held had sauntered TO the place
IN casual sort of way and dropped in
disguised rs travelling preacher.
| As lay awake for several hours
that night revolving in my mind what
course of action | should adopt.
came TO the conclusion, inasmuch as
none of the victims when found had
| their boots wet, that they were when
severaily overcome travelling from st.
| Rose east. and i'm the direction of the
place where ! was at present soiourn-
! ing, consequently that the murderer
must in all probability have come from
| the direction of the former town, and
that | should at present prosecute my
| Investigations on that side of the river
! This TO some extent simplilied the
case.
Another hypothesis | formed was
that possibly the several murders We're
committed by person disguised as a
woman, and a further one was that, as
the river was described to me as being
deep and sluggish save at the ford, and
was overhung by wooded eminences,
the murderer may have come from his
lurking place in the boat, and, watch
ing his victims come along the road
leading down to the hollow at the
stream, had joined in conversation with
| his sevcrel victims and had in an un-
! garded moment on the part of each of
them taken his life and had then made
| good lis escape up the river with his
plumber, especially rs he might posi-
| IDLY be seen at some time or other
bringing it along the road. Whoever
the murder was he must have been a
man of considerable determination,
GOODNESS, and intrepcdity. | concluded.
| made several other speculations
about the matter and fell asleep through
sheer mental WEAKNESS.
The following day | arrayed myself
in the attire of commercial traveller,
bearing in my left hand black-leather
square-shaped bag. and having care
fully examined the printing of my re-
volver, which / carried in my coat
pocket ready for use at my left hand.
am ambideXtrous, using either hand
with equal facility; / carried a thick
stick in my right hand. | could thus
on an emergency drop my bag and
draw my revolver with the left hand,
or could use the stick with the other
Two hours of a stroll sufiiced to
cover the distance of five miles between
the town of Mineral Point and the river.
and it was not without sensation of
trepidation that | reached the fatal
ford. In the most inconsequent way,
as trudged ankle-deep through tho
river, stepping whenever could from
one stone to another whenever they
presented themselves above the waite, |
looked on either side of me up the
stream, and fancied that | had never
seen so gloomy place. The boughs
/ S,t, fl.. has,l-. ,a
the cartway almost interlaced, and as
the sky was clouded the river appeared
like an inky pool stagnant almost. save
in the place where | was crossing.
of course bestowed little more than
a hasty glance around me, with an af-
fectation of unconcern. and when
got to the opposite side of the stream
wiped my boots in the grass and pro-
coded to walk leisurely along the road,
of which | had another five miles to 90
before | should reach St. Rose East
This last it may beexplained, is not on
Il railroad line, the nearest depot to it
being mt a small village about four
miles further on,
The road travelled was rather uRin-
teresting; there We're no hedges along
it save in the vicinity of farm-houses,
and there was but one store on the way.
Into this | entered, and calling for Il
glass of beer sat down on a form to rest
myself; that was my avOwed object,
but it was in reality to take stock of the
place and its owner.
The establishment of Jabez Watkins
did not appear to do a roaring trade,
| for during the half-hOur | rested near
the counter smoking | perceived that
only one customer came i'm. negro,
who called for and drank off a glass of
/ lager. The negro and the proprietor
| appeared TO be acquainted with each
other. Having fallen into n chat with
| the landlord while the negro was drink
ing. let il ooze ont was CONNER
cial traveller bound for St. Rose East.
Both of them stared rather hard at
me. and Jabez inquired did intend to
return to Mineral Point or was | going
forward to st. Rose West, where the
railroad depot was, and both of them
shrugged their shoulders when | stated
that | would be returning to Mineral
Point, though not for few days yet
| endeavored warily to draw them into
conversation a. TO matters stirring in
the ueighborhood, as | was stranger
in these parts, and so forth, but each
of them seemed carefully TO avoid the
subject, and finding that no further
good could be got by my remaining
ordered another glass of beer, and hav-
ing drank it babe them good day. The
proprietor. however, inquired in a civil
sort of way would not call at his store
on my return, which promised to slo.
In about an hours time reached st.
Rose East. which found was small
town having less than 1000 of popu-
lation, and put up for the rest of the
day at the only hotel in the place. A
wretched establishment ii was, bad vie
uals. worse cooked, poor attendance,
and worse sleeping accommodations
were its main characteristics.
The landlord appeared to be very
anxious TO know my business and for
the purpose of gratifying his curiosity
| opened my baggage and produced
some samples of prime whiskey which
offered him upon very good terms.
The man appeared to be in a trading
disposition and gave me small order
for G. o. ID. | made believe u 20
around some of the liquor stores, sham